Wichita State University’s online M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis gives students broad preparation in behavioral science while emphasizing educational and school-based applications, collaboration and meaningful connection with faculty and peers.
Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, is a broad field with applications across populations, settings and many areas of human functioning.
Behavior analysts use the science of behavior to address a wide range of needs in areas such as education, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral pediatrics, mental health services, organizational behavior management, health and fitness, behavioral sports psychology, services for older adults, substance-use prevention and treatment, brain injury rehabilitation and community-based services.
Wichita State University’s Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis is designed to help students understand that breadth while preparing them to apply behavioral science across a variety of professional environments.
A distinctive school-based perspective
One of the features that distinguishes WSU’s ABA program is its emphasis on school-based services, including both behavioral and academic intervention for K–12 students.
Dr. Patty Nuhfer, an assistant professor in school psychology and ABA program coordinator says that from a behavior-analytic perspective, academic skills such as reading and mathematics are also behaviors that can be measured and improved.
"Our students learn to identify academic skill deficits and use data to select and evaluate evidence-based interventions, expanding their preparation beyond traditional behavioral concerns," said Nuhfer.
The program also emphasizes collaboration with educators, families and other professionals, helping students understand how behavioral support fits within larger educational and community systems and support meaningful student outcomes.
This school-based preparation demonstrates a broader principle that runs throughout the program: ABA is not limited to addressing challenging behavior. It is a science of behavior that can be applied to learning, instruction, skill development and other socially significant outcomes across populations and settings.
Online learning with connection built in
WSU’s ABA program is offered fully online, allowing students to participate regardless of geographic location. The format also provides flexibility for working professionals and students balancing graduate study with other responsibilities.
The program combines synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Asynchronous coursework gives students flexibility in when they complete portions of their work, while synchronous meetings provide regular opportunities for discussion, applied problem solving, feedback and interaction with faculty and classmates.
That combination is designed to give students the convenience of online learning while still creating opportunities to build relationships and feel connected to a professional learning community.
Broad preparation for future behavior analysts
For students considering graduate study in ABA, WSU’s program brings together three important elements: broad preparation in behavioral science, a distinctive school-based educational perspective, applied field experience and an online format designed to balance flexibility with connection.
Students are prepared to work collaboratively, apply behavioral science across different settings and use data to make meaningful decisions about behavior and outcomes.